Parshas Reeh

Creating Holiness

By Rabbi Shlomo Jarcaig

"See, I present before you today a blessing and a curse." (Devarim/
Deuteronomy 11:26) As we are taught that the Torah contains no extraneous
letters, no less extra words, the commentators note that the word "see" is
perplexing. Why would the Torah to tell us to "see" when there is nothing
upon which to directly look?

Sforno (1) explains that "see" sends a message to everyone today. Pay
attention and take note to the consequences of your actions. Do not allow
yourselves to be complacent the way most people are, because I am placing
before you a blessing and a curse, two extremes. If you take advantage of
your opportunities you will be blessed exceptionally; if you do not there
will be tragic repercussions. This concept is elaborated upon in the
explanation of Chovos Halevavos (2) that explains that even mundane daily
activities, such as eating, drinking, or sleeping, are not viewed as mere
activities. If they are done in order to serve G-d they are mitzvos
(Divine commands). If they are done for other reasons, they can be
transgressions.

The parable is told of two men who died at the same time and together
awaited judgment before the Heavenly Court. The first man had spent much
of his time involved in prayer, Torah study, and other spiritual endeavors
while the second had not. When the first one was judged, he was rewarded
not only for his Torah study and prayer, but also for his meals and other
mundane activities. The second man saw this and got excited, for although
he did not dedicate much time to mitzvos he certainly ate plenty over his
years. When the second man was judged he received no reward for those
activities. In response to his objections he was told that the first man
needed to eat, drink and sleep, to perform the basic activities of life, to
enable him to fulfill mitzvos. Since those were his intentions, those
activities were themselves considered mitzvos and he was justly rewarded
for them. In contrast, the second man ate only for himself, his time and
energies were not directed toward spiritual activities, and when he ate it
was not to enable him to do mitzvos. Such activities did not deserve any
rewards.

Indeed, in every single moment of our lives we make choices. The Torah is
telling us not to think that we can put ourselves into a spiritual cruise
control, but we need to "see" the opportunity of each moment. To let it
pass is an incredible curse; but to capture it and create holiness out of
the mundane is the most fantastic blessing.